Principal Automation and Controls Architect

Job Description

Job Description

About the Opportunity

International Motors is expanding in San Antonio and launching a new night production shift as part of our growth. Production is planned to begin in early 2027. The night schedule runs Monday–Thursday, 5:30 PM–4:00 AM. This is a salaried role aligned to the night production shift, with the expectation of providing operational support as needed, which can include extended hours, startup/recovery activities, and occasional weekends to meet business requirements. A 10% pay differential applies once you transition to the night schedule.

A Day (and Night) in This Role

When production is humming and a line suddenly stops, you’re the first call. You quickly triage alarms on Ignition SCADA, dive into Allen‑Bradley ControlLogix or CompactLogix logic, and coordinate with maintenance, quality, and operations to restore throughput. You’re equally comfortable tuning a PowerFlex drive as you are tracking down an intermittent industrial Ethernet issue, reimaging a Fanuc robot controller, or validating barcode/vision logic tied into SQL-based reporting. You own the plant controls landscape on the night shift—keeping people safe, equipment reliable, and output on target.

What You’ll Lead Production Support & Troubleshooting

• Serve as the primary escalation point for complex automation disruptions across production equipment, material handling systems, robotics, and plant-wide controls.
• Deliver rapid response and root-cause analysis for controls, electrical, network, robotics, and system integration issues.
• Partner with production, maintenance, quality, and operations to resolve failures and process abnormalities.
• Drive downtime to a minimum through disciplined diagnostics and corrective actions.

Automation Systems Ownership

• Develop, maintain, and troubleshoot:
  • Allen‑Bradley ControlLogix and CompactLogix PLCs
  • FactoryTalk applications
  • Ignition SCADA and HMI interfaces
  • Industrial Ethernet networks
  • Variable Frequency Drives (PowerFlex, SEW, and equivalents)
  • Fanuc robotic systems
  • Vision systems and barcode tracking
  • SQL-based manufacturing databases and reporting

Material Handling & Plant Infrastructure

• Support automated conveyors and material transport equipment.
• Implement and sustain AGV/AMR deployments and fleet management.
• Maintain and enhance overhead crane automation and monitoring.
• Support manufacturing execution, production monitoring, and plant visualization systems.

Continuous Improvement

• Identify and deploy controls improvements that elevate safety, reliability, throughput, and maintainability.
• Analyze downtime trends and implement permanent corrective actions.
• Lead modernization and upgrade projects across aging automation assets.
• Standardize architectures, coding practices, and SCADA/HMI development standards.

Technical Leadership

• Act as the senior technical resource for night shift maintenance and operations.
• Coach Controls Engineers, Electricians, and Automation Technicians.
• Create troubleshooting guides, standards, and training content.
• Coordinate controls activities during launches, shutdowns, and major equipment modifications.

Cybersecurity & Compliance

• Advance industrial cybersecurity initiatives and secure architecture practices.
• Ensure adherence to company engineering standards and machine safety requirements.
• Maintain backups, disaster recovery procedures, and change management documentation.

What You Bring

You’re a seasoned automation professional with deep hands-on experience in Rockwell Automation platforms, Ignition SCADA, industrial networking, robotics, and high-volume manufacturing troubleshooting. You provide decisive technical leadership, move quickly under pressure, and can support multiple production areas in a fast-paced environment.